Share thisShare

Increase in tremors,normal activity—SRC

There were no reports of any injuries or structural damage to buildings following an earthquake which shook parts of the country on Thursday night, according to Dr Joan Latchman of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre.

There were initial reports that the earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 magnitude earthquake which occurred on the north of the Paria peninsula around 10.49 pm. It was located at 10.91N and 62.08°W with a magnitude of 4.6 and depth of 54km. It was reported felt in Trinidad and Grenada.

Among the areas it was felt were Diego Martin, St James, Westmoorings, Port-of-Spain and Petit Valley.

Shortly after 2 pm yesterday, an earthquake occurred north-west of Trinidad. It was located at 11.03N and 61.85°W with a magnitude of 4.2 and depth of 16 km.

It was not reported felt on land, according to the Seismic Research Centre.

On April 23, 2017, Trinidad experienced a 4.7 earthquake.

“We expect in this general area…if we consider 4.6 to 5.0 earthquake a class earthquake, we would expect one of those every year. Make it be known that this is normal and the big one, when it occurs, will be normal and because it is normal, we need to be preparing for it,” Latchman said.

In 1766, Trinidad suffered a magnitude 8 earthquake which flattened a number of buildings, which Latchman said was devastating across the country. She could not say if lives were lost.

“What we are trying to get people to understand is that all the little earthquakes we feel are all part of the normal activity associated with the earthquake hazard in our region. This is consistent with what we would expect.”

She said every 10 to 15 years we would face an earthquake which would measure around six.

“But we had one in 2013 and then we had one again in 2016. Certainly, we are seeing an increase. We need to get away from this idea that we are going to see something to tell us when the big one is happening tomorrow.”

RHIANNA MCKENZIE
From the moment you enter the capital city, the Twin Towers are the most notable part of the waterfront. They may not be the sky scrapers that most foreign visitors are used to but for us, the towers...